did you compile the latest version from source ?

@mitu
Thanks sudo /usr/sbin/sshd -d to debug helped a lot.
It was the very first line /etc/ssh/sshd_config that had been uncommented, I noticed it wasn't in yours but it kind of blends in and I kept ignoring it for some reason.

Rewrite:
For people without a usb keyboard. On any android you can use an app like ConnectBot to SSH into your pi using RNDIS USB ethernet.

Activate SSH on the Raspberry Pi
navigate to raspi-config >> Interfacing Options >> SSH
or (untested)
create an empty file named ssh in the boot directory of the raspberry sdcard

Install the apps on your android
ConnectBot (or preferred ssh client)
LanDroid (optional)
F-Droid (optional - Free Open Source Software for Android)

Activate the RNDIS USB ethernet
use your phone charger to connect the Android device to the raspberry pi USB.
android settings >> network & internet >> Mobile Hotspot/Tethering >> USB tethering
or if you're phone provider has this service blocked
for android 2.3 - 4.4
Use an app like Notification Bar will sometimes allow you to enable tether using the widget. Or install an unbranded rom like cyanogen-mod.
for android ?5.0 - 8.0
android settings >> system >> about phone >> x7 build number (click on the build number 7 times)
with "developer mode" enabled
android settings >> developer options >> "select usb configuration" - RNDIS (USB Ethernet)
(This is a good way to turn your phone into a wifi adapter if your router allows internet connection sharing)

Aquire the IP address of the Pi using arp
navigate to "show IP" on the raspberry pi
or
using ConnectBot app; add a host; change protocol to "local"; or use local terminal emulator
type cat /proc/net/arp or ip neighbor into android terminal
look for the ip-address 192.168.42.*
or
open the app LanDroid, and select the ARP & ND Cache
or on windows
use commandline arp -a look for a dynamic address that is not listed in ipconfig

Open a SSH to the Raspberry Pi
Use ConnectBot to add a ssh host filling out the username "pi"(default) and host "ip.address"(from the arp cache)
other apps can be used and configured including sftp, I use the apps Total Commander and SFtp plugin for Total Commander
or on windows
windows 10 has ssh built in, simply type ssh ip.address
or use one of these programs
PuTTY(ssh)
BitVise SSH client with ftp (easy to advanced)
KiTTY (PuTTY with more features, easy)
WinSCP (scp, sftp, ftp, advanced)
FileZilla (sftp & ftp)
And many more inlcuding Terminus, Super Putty and the amazing though complex Cygwin

Android RNDIS creates IP addresses from the range 192.168.42.[1-255] these are generated randomly and will change when you reconnect the tether. When I figure out how to assign a static ip or save the dhcp or create some sort of order I will share. And if anyone know how to do this then please do.

Alternatively to setting up ethernet, import the wpa passkey (wifi passkey) create a wifikeyfile.txt with the contents

ssid="NETWORK_NAME" psk="NETWORK_PASSWORD"

save it to the main folder of the microsd with retropie installed using a microsd reader.
Reinsert the micro sd with RetroPie installed and power on the Raspberry Pi.
Navigate Emulationstation using your controller to WiFi and Import wifi credentials from /boot/wifikeyfile.txt

So it is possible with any android phone with a usb charging cable to tether and access configurations. or if you have a ethernet cable for your computer.

I'm happy to help. Feel free to practice and take notes. It is difficult to find memories like this from while travelling. @trekdrop

~Bon voyage.

@jthomas5150 If you press F4 in emulationstation then you can quickly find out how your keyboard is configured (by trial and error). For example on my big keyboard almost none of the symbols on my keyboard coincide with the symbols that appear on my tv screen when I press them.

Just a quick bit of advise this should be set in quick menu->options the option names can and do change there is no reason to edit any files

@MajorDangerNine lr-vice has a virtual keyboard and you can control the mouse with your controller. Lr-bluemsx works. Msx does have some games that require some keyboard keys. Linapple works but there might be some games that require a keyboard press. Not sure though. After setting up controls you can play a ton of games in dosbox without a controller. Thats the extent of my computer gaming systems.

@jladd1113 Try updating the 4.4 image with the latest OS packages, that would the only difference between the 2 images. If that doesn't work, then you can manually install RetroPie ontop of Raspbian - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Manual-Installation/.

Got it. You have to go to the individual emulator retroarch.cfg file. This is what mine looks like now for atari2600 and it works.

# Settings made here will only override settings in the global retroarch.cfg if placed above the includes. input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/atari2600/" input_enable_hotkey = "escape" input_exit_emulator = "escape" #include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg"

References:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3665/exit-every-emulator-with-escape-key
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/RetroArch-Configuration

@de_jean125 Something like that, yes. :)

My first guess was that it was for your kid(s), by the way.

You could even let it get nastier … "Stop or I'll hack into your bank account and send all of your money to homes for retired game programmers!"

@alain said in Keyboard hotkey setting gets overwritten when using keyboard and controller as the same player:

e the dedicated exit button to leave the game.
The hotkey button from the controller player one is expected to be pressed and

there is no need do disable hotkeys at all just use game focus mode

You can customize your key/button bindings as you like - globally, per-system or per-game. Look into the RetroArch controller configuration docs.

Worked like a charm. Thank you very much!

@kombat Yes. I flashed to 1.39. You can still use it as a keyboard if desired, but the option to change the buttons to gamepad buttons is now available.

Emulationstation also sees my mini-ipac as two"Ultimarc Mini-Ipac"s now instead of "keyboard"

@blacklight19 You can use SSH to connect over the network to the system.